Run by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett says in an interview that Run is about politics. It isn't. It's really about family.
This book is the first novel to follow the uber-hit Bel Canto, and follows a wide array of Doyle family members during a 24 hour period leading up to and following a snow storm in present day Boston. Bernard Doyle is the ex-mayor of Boston, whose beloved wife, Bernadette has died many years ago. He has raised both his biological son, Sullivan, but also two adopted African-American boys, Tip and Teddy. Sullivan has secrets (everyone in Run has secrets) and has returned under suspect conditions from Africa. Doyle is making a last ditch effort to entice Tip and Teddy into politics by inviting them to a Jesse Jackson lecture at Harvard. They go, but would rather be elsewhere. After the lecture, Tip's life is saved by Tennessee, who pushes him out of the way of a car in the snow. Why was Tennessee so close? And what should the Doyle family do with her daughter, Kenya?
This book starts off telling the story of a statue of the Virgin Mary. The story of how the family comes into possession of the beautiful statue is one of secrets, lies and ultimately how deceit can ruin a family. Race, family, Catholicism, lies, loyalty provide the twists and turns in this novel. Underneath it all is a good family, and interesting story and solid characters. Patchett bites off a lot, sometimes too much, bu this would be a good recommendation for anyone who enjoys contemporary literature.